Communicating control information in mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to communicating control information in a mobile communication system, by which new control information can be transmitted more quickly. The present invention comprises transmitting a first data block comprising control information for transmitting first data when no resources for the transmission of the first data are available, receiving second data from an upper layer to be transmitted, wherein the second data has a higher priority than the first data, and transmitting a second data block comprising updated control information for transmitting the first and second data when no resources for the transmission of the first and second data are available.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No.P2005-0037307, filed on May 3, 2005, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communicating control information in amobile communication system. Although the present invention is suitablefor a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable forquickly communicating new control information in a mobile communicationsystem using an automatic repeat request scheme for indicatingreception-failure of a packet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network structure of a universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS). Referring to FIG. 1, a UMTS mainlyincludes a user equipment (UE), a UMTS terrestrial radio access network(UTRAN), and a core network (CN).

The UTRAN includes at least one radio network sub-system (hereinafterabbreviated RNS). The RNS includes one radio network controller (RNC)and at least one base station (Node B) managed by the RNC. At least oneor more cells exist in one Node B.

FIG. 2 is an architectural diagram of a radio interface protocol betweenthe UE (user equipment) and the UTRAN (UMTS terrestrial radio accessnetwork). Referring to FIG. 2, a radio interface protocol verticallyincludes a physical layer, a data link layer, and a network layer.Horizontally, the radio interface protocol includes a user plane fordata information transfer and a control plane for signaling transfer.

The protocol layers in FIG. 2 can be divided into a first layer (L1), asecond layer (L2), and a third layer (L3) such as the three lower layersof an open system interconnection (OSI) standard model widely known inthe art. The respective layers in FIG. 2 are explained as follows.

A physical layer (PHY) is the first layer and offers an informationtransfer service to an upper layer using a physical channel. Thephysical layer (PHY) is connected to a medium access control (MAC) layerlocated above the physical layer PHY via a transport channel. Data istransferred between the MAC layer and the PHY layer via the transportchannel. Moreover, data is transferred between different physicallayers, and more particularly, between a physical layer of atransmitting side and a physical layer of a receiving side via thephysical channel.

The MAC layer of the second layer offers a service to a radio linkcontrol (RLC) layer located above the MAC layer via a logical channel.The MAC layer can also be divided into a MAC-b sublayer, a MAC-dsublayer, a MAC-c/sh sublayer, a MAC-hs sublayer and a MAC-e sublayeraccording to the types of transport channels managed in detail.

The MAC-b sublayer takes charge of managing a transport channel such asa broadcast channel (BCH) responsible for broadcasting systeminformation. The MAC-c/sh sublayer manages a shared transport channel,which is shared by other UEs. A forward access channel (FACH) and adownlink shared channel (DSCH) are examples of a shared transportchannel. The MAC-d sublayer takes charge of managing a dedicatedtransport channel such as a DCH (dedicated channel) for a specific UE.The MAC-hs sublayer manages a transport channel such as a high speeddownlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) for supporting high speed datatransfer in downlink and uplink. The MAC-e sublayer manages a transportchannel such as an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) for uplink datatransfer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a structural example of DCH and E-DCH. Referringto FIG. 3, both DCH and E-DCH are transport channels that can bededicatedly used by one user equipment (UE). In particular, the E-DCH isused by a user equipment to transfer data to a UTRAN in uplink. Comparedto the DCH, the E-DCH can transfer uplink data faster than the DCH. Totransfer data at high speed, the E-DCH adopts a technique such as hybridautomatic repeat request (HARQ), adaptive modulation and coding (AMC)and scheduling controlled by a Node B, for example.

For E-DCH, the Node B transfers to the UE downlink control informationfor controlling the UE's E-DCH transfer. The downlink controlinformation includes response information (ACK/NACK) for HARQ, channelquality information for AMC, E-DCH transport rate assignmentinformation, E-DCH transport start time and transport time intervalassignment information, and transport block size information, forexample. Meanwhile, the UE transfers uplink control information to theNode B. The uplink control information includes E-DCH rate requestinformation for Node B controlled scheduling, UE buffer statusinformation, and UE power status information, for example. The uplinkand downlink control information for E-DCH is transferred via a physicalcontrol channel such as an enhanced dedicated physical control channel(E-DPCCH).

A MAC-d flow is defined between a MAC-d sublayer and a MAC-e sublayerfor E-DCH. In this case, a dedicated logical channel is mapped to theMAC-d flow. The MAC-d flow is mapped to a transport channel E-DCH, andthe E-DCH is mapped to another physical channel E-DPDCH (enhanceddedicated physical data channel). On the other hand, the dedicatedlogical channel can be directly mapped to DCH. In this case, thetransport channel DCH is mapped to a dedicated physical data channel(DPDCH). The MAC-d sublayer in FIG. 3 manages the DCH (dedicatedchannel) as a dedicated transport channel for a specific user equipment,while the MAC-e sublayer manages the E-DCH (enhanced dedicated channel)as a transport channel used in transferring fast data in uplink.

A MAC-d sublayer of a transmitting side configures a MAC-d protocol dataunit (PDU) from a MAC-d service data unit (SDU) delivered from an upperlayer, i.e., an RLC layer. A MAC-d sublayer of a receiving sidefacilitates recovery of the MAC-d SDU from the MAC-d PDU received from alower layer and delivers the recovered MAC-d SDU to an upper layer. Indoing so, the MAC-d exchanges the MAC-d PDU with a MAC-e sublayer via aMAC-d flow or exchanges the MAC-d PDU with a physical layer via the DCH.The MAC-d sublayer of the receiving side recovers the MAC-d PDU using aMAC-d header attached to the MAC-d PDU prior to delivering the recoveredMAC-d SDU to an upper layer.

A MAC-e sublayer of a transmitting side configures a MAC-e PDU from aMAC-e SDU corresponding to a MAC-d PDU delivered from an upper layer,i.e., a MAC-d sublayer. The MAC-e sublayer of a receiving sidefacilitates recovery of the MAC-e SDU from the MAC-e PDU received from alower layer, i.e., a physical layer and delivers the recovered MAC-e SDUto a higher layer. In doing so, the MAC-e exchanges the MAC-e PDU withthe physical layer via the E-DCH. The MAC-e sublayer of the receivingside recovers the MAC-e SDU using a MAC-e header attached to the MAC-ePDU prior to delivering the recovered MAC-e SDU to a higher layer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a protocol for E-DCH. Referring to FIG. 4, aMAC-e sublayer supporting E-DCH exists below a MAC-d sublayer of aUTRAN. Furthermore, a MAC-e sublayer supporting E-DCH exists below aMAC-d sublayer of a UE. The MAC-e sublayer of the UTRAN is located at aNode B. The MAC-e sublayer exists in each UE. On the other hand, theMAC-d sublayer of the UTRAN is located at a serving radio networkcontroller (SRNC) in charge of managing a corresponding UE. The MAC-dsublayer exists in each UE.

Control information transmission for E-DCH is explained as follows.First of all, a scheduler exists at a Node B for E-DCH. The schedulerfacilitates the allocation of an optimal radio resource to each UEexisting within one cell to raise transmission efficiency of data in anuplink transfer at a base station from all UEs within each cell. Inparticular, more radio resources are allocated to a UE having a goodchannel status in one cell to enable the corresponding UE to transmitmore data. Less radio resources are allocated to a UE having a poorchannel status to prevent the corresponding UE from transmittinginterference signals over an uplink radio channel.

When allocating radio resources to the corresponding UE, the schedulerdoes not only consider a radio channel status of a UE. The scheduleralso requires control information from UEs. For example, the controlinformation includes a power quantity the UE can use for E-DCH or aquantity of data the UE attempts to transmit. Namely, even if the UE hasa better channel status, if there is no spare power the UE can use forE-DCH, or if there is no data the UE will transmit in an uplinkdirection, a radio resource should not be allocated to the UE. In otherwords, the scheduler can raise the efficiency of radio resource usewithin one cell only if a radio resource is allocated to a UE having aspare power for E-DCH and data to be transmitted in the uplink transfer.

Accordingly, a UE should send control information to a scheduler of aNode B. The control information can be transmitted in various ways. Forinstance, a scheduler of a Node B can instruct a UE to report that datato be transmitted in uplink exceeds a specific value or to periodicallysend control information to the Node B itself.

In case a radio resource is allocated to a UE from a scheduler of a NodeB, the UE configures a MAC-e PDU within the allocated radio resource andthen transmits the MAC-e PDU to a base station via E-DCH. In particular,if there exists data to be transmitted, a UE sends control informationto a Node B to inform the Node-b that there is data to be transmitted bythe UE. A scheduler of the Node B then sends information indicating thata radio resource allocation will be made to the UE based on the controlinformation been sent by the UE. In this case, the informationindicating the radio resource allocation means a maximum value of powerthe UE can transmit in uplink, a ratio for a reference channel, etc. TheUE configures the MAC-e PDU within a permitted range based on theinformation indicating the radio resource allocation and transmits theconfigured MAC-e PDU.

However, in the related art method, a UE transmits a MAC-e PDU, whichstarts a transmission, until receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) from theNode B that the MAC-e PDU was correctly received by the Node B, orretransmits the MAC-e PDU as many times as a maximum retransmissionattempt value allows. Accordingly, when new data arrives at the UE to betransmitted to the Node B, new control information should also betransmitted to the Node B to request a resource allocation for the newdata transmission. However, in the related art as shown in FIG. 5, theUE must wait until receiving an ACK from the Node B or retransmit an oldMAC-e PDU a maximum number of times allowable before transmitting a newor updated MAC-e PDU with the new control information. Accordingly, atime taken for a UE to receive a radio resource allocation is delayed.Furthermore, by considering that information such as power informationis frequently changed, wrong or old information is delivered to a Node Bunder the related art method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to communicating control informationin a mobile communication system.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the presentinvention is embodied in a method for communicating control informationin a mobile communication system, the method comprising transmitting afirst data block comprising control information for transmitting firstdata when no resources for the transmission of the first data areavailable, receiving second data from an upper layer to be transmitted,wherein the second data has a higher priority than the first data, andtransmitting a second data block comprising updated control informationfor transmitting the first and second data when no resources for thetransmission of the first and second data are available. Preferably,priority is related to a logical channel through which data isdelivered.

In one aspect of the invention the method further comprises establishingan automatic repeat request scheme with a receiver for receivingfeedback information regarding the transmission of the first and seconddata block, wherein the receiver is one of a mobile terminal and anetwork.

Preferably, the second data block is transmitted independent ofreceiving feedback information from the receiver for the first datablock transmission.

Preferably, the first data block is retransmitted to the receiver usingthe automatic repeat request scheme until receiving ACK for the firstdata block from the receiver, wherein the receiver is one of a mobileterminal and a network.

Preferably, the first data block is retransmitted to the receiver amaximum number of times set by the receiver using the automatic repeatrequest scheme if ACK for the first data block is not received from thereceiver, wherein the receiver is one of a mobile terminal and anetwork.

Preferably, the second data block is retransmitted to the receiver usingthe automatic repeat request scheme until receiving ACK for the seconddata block from the receiver, wherein the receiver is one of a mobileterminal and a network.

Preferably, the second data block is retransmitted to the receiver amaximum number of times set by the receiver using the automatic repeatrequest scheme if ACK for the second data block is not received from thereceiver, wherein the receiver is one of a mobile terminal and anetwork.

In another aspect of the invention, the control information comprisesscheduling information, wherein the scheduling information comprises atleast one of highest priority logical channel identifier, total E-DCHbuffer status, highest priority logical channel buffer status, andmobile terminal power headroom.

In a further aspect of the invention, the first data block is a MAC-ePDU and the second data block is a MAC-e PDU.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a mobileterminal for communicating control information in a mobile communicationsystem comprises a processor for receiving first and second data from anupper layer and generating a first data and second data block to betransmitted, wherein the second data has a higher priority than thefirst data, and a transmitter controlled by the processor fortransmitting the first data block comprising control information fortransmitting the first data when no resources for the transmission ofthe first data are available, wherein the transmitter transmits thesecond data block comprising updated control information fortransmitting the first and second data when no resources for thetransmission of the first and second data are available.

Preferably, priority is related to a logical channel through which datais delivered.

In one aspect of the invention, the mobile terminal establishes anautomatic repeat request scheme with a receiving side for receivingfeedback information regarding the transmission of the first and seconddata block, wherein the receiving side is one of a mobile terminal and anetwork.

Preferably, the second data block is transmitted independent ofreceiving feedback information from the receiving side for the firstdata block transmission.

Preferably, the first data block is retransmitted to the receiving sideusing the automatic repeat request scheme until receiving ACK for thefirst data block from the receiving side, wherein the receiving side isone of a mobile terminal and a network.

Preferably, the first data block is retransmitted to the receiving sidea maximum number of times set by the receiving side using the automaticrepeat request scheme if ACK for the first data block is not receivedfrom the receiving side, wherein the receiving side is one of a mobileterminal and a network.

Preferably, the second data block is retransmitted to the receiving sideusing the automatic repeat request scheme until receiving ACK for thesecond data block from the receiving side, wherein the receiving side isone of a mobile terminal and a network.

Preferably, the second data block is retransmitted to the receiving sidea maximum number of times set by the receiving side using the automaticrepeat request scheme if ACK for the second data block is not receivedfrom the receiving side, wherein the receiving side is one of a mobileterminal and a network.

In another aspect of the invention, the control information comprisesscheduling information, wherein the scheduling information comprises atleast one of highest priority logical channel identifier, total E-DCHbuffer status, highest priority logical channel buffer status, andmobile terminal power headroom.

In a further aspect of the invention, the first data block is a MAC-ePDU and the second data block is a MAC-e PDU.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that arereferenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same,equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance withone or more embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network structure of a universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS).

FIG. 2 is an architectural diagram of a radio interface protocol betweena user equipment (UE) and a UMTS terrestrial radio access network(UTRAN).

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a structural example of a dedicated channel (DCH)and an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH).

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a protocol for E-DCH.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method of communicating control information in amobile communication system in accordance with the related art.

FIG. 6A illustrates a method for communicating control information inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B illustrates a method for communicating control information inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for communicating control information inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile communication device inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to communicating control information in amobile communication system.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A transmission method using a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)scheme will be explained as follows. First of all, HARQ is used forE-DCH to raise a probability of transmitted data successfully arrivingat a receiving side and to reduce the power necessary for thecorresponding arrival. Accordingly, under HARQ, raising the probabilityof transmission success and reducing necessary power is dependent onfeedback information sent from the receiving side to a transmittingside. Preferably, the feedback information notifies the transmittingside whether the data transmitted by the transmitting side is correctlyreceived at the receiving side.

For instance, if a receiving side correctly receives a packet 1transmitted by a transmitting side, such as a UE, via a physicalchannel, the receiving side transmits a reception success signal oracknowledgement (ACK). If the receiving side fails to correctly receivethe packet 1, the receiving side transmits a negative acknowledgement(NACK). Thereafter, the transmitting side transmits new data, i.e., apacket 2 in case that the feedback is ACK with reference to the feedbackhaving been transmitted by the transmitting side. If the feedback isNACK, the transmitting side retransmits the packet 1. In doing so, thetransmitting side attempts a transmission using both of the formerpacket 1 (firstly transmitted) and the latter packet 1 (secondlytransmitted). If this succeeds, the receiving side transmits ACK to thetransmitting side. If this fails, the receiving side transmits NACK tothe transmitting side. When NACK is received by the transmitting side,the transmitting side repeats the above process. In this case, theretransmitted packet 1 should be identical to the former packet 1. Ifnot, the receiving side is unable to recover the data correctly.

However, if the UE continues to stay in an area having a poor channelstatus or if data to be transmitted by the UE is sensitive to deliverydelay, the UE is unable to indefinitely perform the above-explainedretransmission. Therefore, the receiving side informs a UE of a maximumnumber of available transmissions or retransmissions. In case ofreceiving the NACK from the receiving side after having attempted totransmit data as many times as the maximum number of retransmissions,the UE stops attempting the transmission of the corresponding data andattempts a transmission of next data.

Hence, even if control information is included in the MAC-e PDU, the UEattempts retransmission of the MAC-e PDU as many times as the maximumnumber of retransmissions. As previously mentioned, the above-explainedretransmission is needed to raise the probability of reception successof the MAC-e PDU in the receiving side. Preferably, contents included inthe control information are a maximum priority channel, a maximumpriority channel ratio, a total buffer quantity, a margin of power andthe like. In this case, the maximum priority channel means a channelhaving a highest priority among channels having data to be transmitted.

As mentioned in the foregoing description, in the HARQ system, atransmitting side transmits data, waits for a feedback from a receivingside and then decides whether to perform a retransmission according tothe contents of the feedback. However, a long time elapses until aresponse from the receiving side arrives at the transmitting side afterthe data is transmitted by the transmitting side. While awaiting theresponse, the UE may receive various new data from a user. In such acase, the maximum priority channel may be changed, or other informationsuch as the total buffer quantity, the margin of power and the like maybe changed as well.

In particular, the maximum priority channel information is important.This is because a Node B preferentially allocates radio resources to UEshaving higher priorities when considering all UEs within a correspondingcell during the allocation of radio resources. Accordingly, if a maximumpriority channel included in the control information firstly transmittedby a UE is a channel having a very low priority, and if data laterarrives at the UE from a channel having a higher priority, the UE shouldinform the Node B of this information immediately. For example, the UEmay inform the Node B at a time when the UE receives NACK from the NodeB.

FIG. 6A illustrates a method for communicating control information inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 6A, a first data packet (MAC-e PDU 1) comprising first controlinformation for first data is transmitted from a UE to a receiving side,wherein the receiving side may be a network or a mobile terminal, forexample. Preferably, the first control information requests a resourceallocation for the transmission of the first data. Subsequently, newdata arrives at the UE to be transmitted to the receiving side. In orderto transmit the new data, the UE requests a data transmission resourceallocation from the receiving side by transmitting control informationrelated to the new data (new control information) to the receiving sidevia a new or updated data packet (MAC-e PDU 2).

As shown in FIG. 6A, the UE preferably does not wait until receiving anACK from the receiving side for the first data packet, or until themaximum number of first data packet retransmissions is attained prior totransmitting the new control information to the receiving side. Rather,the UE waits to receive a NACK for the first data packet. Upon receivingthe NACK, the UE configures a new data packet or updates the first datapacket to include the new control information. Thereafter, the new orupdated data packet is transmitted to the receiving side.

FIG. 6B illustrates a method for communicating control information inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 6B, new data to be transmitted arrives at the UE at a time when aNACK is received from a receiving side for a first data packettransmission. When the NACK is received, the UE configures a new datapacket or updates the first data packet to include new controlinformation related to the new data. Thereafter, the new or updated datapacket is transmitted to the receiving side.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for communicating control information inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 7, the UE does not wait to receive any feedback information fromthe receiving side for a previously-transmitted data packet prior totransmitting new control information. Thus, once new data arrives at theUE to be transmitted to the receiving side, the UE immediatelyconfigures a new data packet comprising new control information relatedto the new data for requesting a data transmission resource allocation.Once configured, the new data packet is transmitted to the receivingside independent of receiving feedback information for thepreviously-transmitted data packet.

Hence, the present invention enables a UE using E-DCH to receive aservice of proper quality. For this, the present invention discloses amethod of enabling a UE to transmit control information to a basestation effectively. Preferably, if the contents of the controlinformation to be transmitted are changed while a UE performs HARQretransmission, new control information of the UE is transmitted to theNode B.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, when a UEtransmits a MAC-e PDU containing control information to a base station(Node B) and waits for a response (feedback information) from the basestation for the MAC-e PDU, if the response instructs that the UE shouldretransmit the MAC-e PDU, the UE stops a retransmission of the MAC-ePDU, re-configures the MAC-e PDU with the latest control information tobe transmitted, and transmits the re-configured MAC-e PDU. If controlinformation is included in the MAC-e PDU only and if control informationof the UE is changed while the UE receives the corresponding response,the UE stops a retransmission of the MAC-e PDU, re-configures the MAC-ePDU with the latest control information to be transmitted, and thentransmits the re-configured MAC-e PDU.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the UEincludes control information in a MAC-e PDU and transmits the MAC-e PDUto a base station. The UE then waits for a response (feedbackinformation) from the base station for the MAC-e PDU. If the UE receivesa command instructing the UE to retransmit the MAC-e PDU, and if theMAC-e PDU includes only the control information, and if the controlinformation of the UE is changed while the UE having transmitted theMAC-e PDU receives a corresponding response, the UE can ignore a maximumnumber of retransmissions.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, when aUE transmits a MAC-e PDU containing control information to a basestation, if the MAC-e PDU includes only the control information, thepresent invention discloses that a maximum number of retransmissions ofthe MAC-e PDU is construed as zero. Preferably, the UE decides not toperform the retransmission when the MAC-e PDU includes only the controlinformation. When receiving a response indicating that a reception ofthe MAC-e PDU including only the control information fails, the UEignores the previous MAC-e PDU, configures a MAC-e PDU by updating thecontrol information and transmits the configured MAC-e PDU. The UEattempts this process until receiving a response indicating a successfulreception of the MAC-e PDU and continues performing this process until anumber of retransmissions does not exceed a maximum number ofretransmissions. Notably, if an initial MAC-e PDU transmission isincluded in the retransmission number in this process, the UE mayconstrue the maximum number of retransmissions as 1.

Preferably, the control information described above comprises schedulinginformation such as a UE's marginal power quantity (mobile terminalpower headroom), a total quantity of data possessed by the UE (totalE-DCH buffer status), a channel having a highest priority among channelshaving data to be transmitted (highest priority logical channelidentifier), or a ratio of data quantity corresponding to a channelhaving a highest priority over total data.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, when theUE receives a response instructing that a retransmission is necessaryafter having transmitted a MAC-e PDU including only control information,and if data arrives at a channel having a priority higher than that of achannel having a highest priority instructed by the control information,the UE stops a retransmission of the MAC-e PDU, includes updated controlinformation in a new MAC-e PDU and transmits the new MAC-e PDU to thebase station.

Preferably, after the UE has transmitted the MAC-e PDU including thecontrol information only, if the UE receives a response requesting aretransmission of the MAC-e PDU, and if the control information the UEis to transmit is to be updated, and if a number of retransmissions issmaller than a maximum number of retransmissions, the UE retransmits thepreviously transmitted MAC-e PDU. Otherwise, the UE stops theretransmission.

Preferably, the response requesting the retransmission comprises asignal indicating that a receiving side fails to receive data from atransmitting side correctly. A NACK signal is an example of such asignal. Preferably, if another user data is included in theUE-transmitting MAC-e PDU including the control information, the UEcontinues to perform the retransmission for the previous MAC-e PDU.

Preferably, if a channel status is poor, the UE preferably continues totransmit the previously transmitted MAC-e PDU for a more concretereception at a Node B. For this, if the control information is changedfor the MAC-e PDU containing the control information only, the UTRANinforms the UE whether to keep performing the retransmission of theprevious MAC-e PDU or to configure and send a new MAC-e PDU with thelatest control information. Accordingly, this may be accomplishedutilizing a setup indicator.

Accordingly, the present invention enables new control information to bequickly transmitted to a base station in a mobile communication systemutilizing an automatic repeat request scheme.

Referring to FIG. 8, a block diagram of a mobile communication device400 of the present invention is illustrated, for example a mobile phonefor performing the methods of the present invention. The mobilecommunication device 400 includes a processing unit 410 such as amicroprocessor or digital signal processor, an RF module 435, a powermanagement module 406, an antenna 440, a battery 455, a display 415, akeypad 420, a storage unit 430 such as flash memory, ROM or SRAM, aspeaker 445 and a microphone 450.

A user enters instructional information, such as a telephone number, forexample, by pushing the buttons of a keypad 420 or by voice activationusing the microphone 450. The processing unit 410 receives and processesthe instructional information to perform the appropriate function, suchas to dial the telephone number. Operational data may be retrieved fromthe storage unit 430 to perform the function. Furthermore, theprocessing unit 410 may display the instructional and operationalinformation on the display 415 for the user's reference and convenience.

The processing unit 410 issues instructional information to the RFmodule 435 to initiate communication, for example, transmits radiosignals comprising voice communication data. The RF module 435 comprisesa receiver and a transmitter to receive and transmit radio signals. Theantenna 440 facilitates the transmission and reception of radio signals.Upon receiving radio signals, the RF module 435 may forward and convertthe signals to baseband frequency for processing by the processing unit410. The processed signals would be transformed into audible or readableinformation outputted via the speaker 445, for example.

The processing unit 410 is adapted to receive first and second data froman upper layer and generate a first and second data block comprisinginformation related to the first and second data to be transmitted to anetwork. The processing unit 410 is also adapted to control atransmitter of the RF module 435 to transmit the first and second datablock to the network. A receiver of the RF module 435 is adapted toreceive signals from the network.

Although the present invention is described in the context of mobilecommunication, the present invention may also be used in any wirelesscommunication systems using mobile devices, such as PDAs and laptopcomputers equipped with wireless communication capabilities. Moreover,the use of certain terms to describe the present invention should notlimit the scope of the present invention to certain type of wirelesscommunication system, such as UMTS. The present invention is alsoapplicable to other wireless communication systems using different airinterfaces and/or physical layers, for example, TDMA, CDMA, FDMA, WCDMA,etc.

The preferred embodiments may be implemented as a method, apparatus orarticle of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineeringtechniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combinationthereof. The term “article of manufacture” as used herein refers to codeor logic implemented in hardware logic (e.g., an integrated circuitchip, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC), etc.) or a computer readable medium (e.g.,magnetic storage medium (e.g., hard disk drives, floppy disks, tape,etc.), optical storage (CD-ROMs, optical disks, etc.), volatile andnon-volatile memory devices (e.g., EEPROMs, ROMs, PROMs, RAMs, DRAMs,SRAMs, firmware, programmable logic, etc.).

Code in the computer readable medium is accessed and executed by aprocessor. The code in which preferred embodiments are implemented mayfurther be accessible through a transmission media or from a file serverover a network. In such cases, the article of manufacture in which thecode is implemented may comprise a transmission media, such as a networktransmission line, wireless transmission media, signals propagatingthrough space, radio waves, infrared signals, ect. Of course, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that may modifications may be made tothis configuration without departing from the scope of the presentinvention, and that the article of manufacture may comprise anyinformation bearing medium known in the art.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuredescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1. A method for a mobile terminal to transmit scheduling information foran enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmission to a network in amobile communication system, the method comprising: transmitting a firstdata block comprising first data received from an upper layer higherthan a medium access control (MAC) layer to the network via the E-DCHusing a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process; receiving,during the HARQ process of the first data block, second data from theupper layer to be transmitted with a higher priority than a transmissionof the first data to the network via the E-DCH; and triggering thescheduling information by receiving the second data from the upperlayer; transmitting the triggered scheduling information with a higherpriority than a transmission of any other data to the network, thescheduling information providing the network with information regardingan amount of resources needed by the mobile terminal to transmit atleast the second data, and the scheduling information includinginformation regarding data having a highest transmission priority. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the priority is related to a logicalchannel through which data is delivered.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising establishing an automatic repeat request scheme withthe network for receiving feedback information regarding thetransmission of the first data block.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinthe scheduling information is transmitted independent of receivingfeedback information from the network for the first data blocktransmission.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the schedulinginformation is transmitted through a second data block.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein at least one of the first data block and the seconddata block is a MAC-e PDU.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thescheduling information comprises at least one of: highest prioritylogical channel identifier; total E-DCH buffer status information;highest priority logical channel buffer status information; and mobileterminal power headroom information.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving resource allocation information determined by thenetwork considering the transmitted scheduling information; andtransmitting the second data to the network according to the resourceallocation information.
 9. A mobile terminal for transmitting schedulinginformation for an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmission to anetwork in a mobile communication system, the mobile terminalcomprising: a processor for receiving first and second data from anupper layer higher than a medium access control (MAC) layer, atransmission of the second data via the E-DCH having a higher prioritythan a transmission of the first data via the E-DCH, the second datareceived during a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process of afirst data block, and generating the first data block comprising thefirst data to be transmitted; and a transmitter controlled by theprocessor for transmitting the first data block to the network using theHARQ process and for transmitting the scheduling information astriggered by a reception of the second data from the upper layer,wherein the scheduling information is transmitted with a higher prioritythan a transmission of any other data to the network, wherein thescheduling information provides the network with information regardingan amount of resources needed by the mobile terminal to transmit atleast the second data, and the scheduling information includesinformation regarding data having a highest transmission priority, andwherein the processor controls the transmitter to transmit thescheduling information regardless of receiving HARQ feedback informationfor the first data block transmission.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim9, wherein the priority is related to a logical channel through whichdata is delivered.
 11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein themobile terminal establishes an automatic repeat request scheme with thenetwork for receiving feedback information regarding the transmission ofthe first data block.
 12. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein thescheduling information is transmitted through a second data block. 13.The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first datablock and the second data block is a MAC-e PDU.
 14. The mobile terminalof claim 9, wherein the scheduling information comprises at least oneof: highest priority logical channel identifier; total E-DCH bufferstatus information; highest priority logical channel buffer statusinformation; and mobile terminal power headroom information.
 15. Themobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the processor further controlsreception of resource allocation information determined by the networkconsidering the transmitted scheduling information, and the transmitteris further controlled by the processor for transmitting the second datato the network according to the resource allocation information.